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Space shuttle may fly 3 times this year

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA — NASA will try for three shuttle flights this year if the space agency is able to launch Discovery in May or July, a top NASA official said Tuesday.

In a best-case scenario, shuttles would fly in May, July and November. Sticking to a May launch schedule for Discovery, though, doesn't give NASA much time to address any major technical problems that might pop up, said NASA launch director Mike Leinbach.

Fixing the problem of foam insulation snapping off the fuel tank during liftoff remains the biggest obstacle to getting the shuttle off the ground in May.

The shuttle Columbia's seven astronauts died in 2003 when a large piece of foam struck a wing during liftoff, leaving a hole that let in fiery gases that shattered the spacecraft on its way toward a landing.